PIG


Meaning of PIG in English

n.

Any wild or domestic even-toed ungulate (family Suidae) that is a stout-bodied, short-legged omnivore, with thick, sparsely bristled skin, a long mobile snout, small tail, and hooves with two functional and two nonfunctional digits.

Pigs are native to European, Asian, and North African forests. Wild pigs use their tusklike teeth to forage and for defense; the teeth of domestic pigs, which were developed from wild pigs in Europe 0441; 1500 BC, are less developed. Pigs are regarded as highly intelligent. Domestic pigs are classified as lard (thick fat, carcass weighing at least 220 lbs, or 100 kg), bacon (carcass about 150 lbs, or 70 kg), and pork (carcass about 100 lbs, or 45 kg) pigs, depending on the principal product derived from them; they are also a source of leather. Today they are usually bred in almost complete confinement. See also boar , hog .

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia.      Краткая энциклопедия Британика.